How to Crop a Screenshot on Mac: A Simple Guide


How to Crop a Screenshot on Mac: A Simple Guide

Screenshots are a vital software for capturing and sharing info in your Mac. Whether or not you are attempting to indicate off a brand new mission to a colleague, present visible directions for a job, or just save a memorable second from a video, figuring out tips on how to crop a screenshot can assist you refine and focus the picture on crucial parts.

Apple’s macOS affords numerous strategies to take screenshots, and every technique supplies its personal set of choices for cropping and modifying the captured picture. On this complete information, we’ll discover the alternative ways to crop a screenshot on Mac, protecting each primary and superior methods that cater to numerous use circumstances.

Earlier than we dive into the particular steps, let’s take a second to grasp why cropping screenshots is useful. Cropping lets you:

The right way to Crop a Screenshot on Mac

Listed here are 8 vital factors to recollect when cropping screenshots on Mac:

  • Use keyboard shortcuts or menu choices.
  • Choose a particular space or the complete display.
  • Crop utilizing the Preview app or built-in instruments.
  • Alter the side ratio if wanted.
  • Save the cropped screenshot in numerous codecs.
  • Copy the cropped picture to the clipboard.
  • Annotate and edit the screenshot additional.
  • Use third-party apps for superior modifying.

By following these factors, you can crop screenshots in your Mac effectively and successfully. Whether or not you are an informal person or knowledgeable designer, having a strong understanding of screenshot cropping methods will improve your productiveness and communication.

Use keyboard shortcuts or menu choices.

On a Mac, you could have two main strategies to take a screenshot: utilizing keyboard shortcuts or deciding on choices from the menu bar. Each strategies provide alternative ways to crop the captured picture.

  • Keyboard Shortcuts:

    Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 to activate the screenshot software. Then, drag the cursor to pick out the realm you wish to seize. Whereas holding down the Spacebar, you possibly can reposition the choice. When you launch the mouse button, the screenshot shall be captured and saved to your desktop.

  • Menu Bar Choices:

    Click on on the “Screenshot” icon within the menu bar. Select the “Chosen Space” choice to seize a particular portion of the display. A crosshair cursor will seem. Click on and drag to pick out the realm you wish to seize. When you launch the mouse button, the screenshot shall be captured and displayed as a thumbnail within the nook of the display. Click on on the thumbnail to open the screenshot within the Preview app, the place you possibly can additional crop and edit the picture.

Each strategies present a fast and straightforward option to seize and crop screenshots in your Mac. Experiment with each strategies to search out the one which most accurately fits your workflow.

Choose a particular space or the complete display.

When taking a screenshot on a Mac, you could have the pliability to seize the complete display or only a particular portion of it. This lets you concentrate on crucial parts and exclude any pointless muddle from the picture.

To seize the complete display, merely press Command (⌘) + Shift + 3. All the display shall be captured and saved to your desktop as a PNG file. Alternatively, you need to use the menu bar possibility by clicking on the “Screenshot” icon and deciding on “Whole Display”.

To seize a particular space of the display, press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4. The cursor will change to a crosshair. Click on and drag the crosshair to pick out the realm you wish to seize. When you launch the mouse button, the chosen space shall be captured and saved to your desktop. You may also use the Spacebar to reposition the choice earlier than capturing the screenshot.

If you wish to seize a particular window, press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 adopted by the Spacebar. The cursor will change to a digicam icon. Hover the digicam icon over the window you wish to seize and click on the mouse button. The chosen window shall be captured and saved to your desktop.

Through the use of these methods, you possibly can simply seize and crop screenshots of particular areas or the complete display in your Mac, making it a flexible software for sharing info and concepts.

Crop utilizing the Preview app or built-in instruments.

After getting captured a screenshot in your Mac, you need to use the Preview app or the built-in screenshot instruments to crop the picture and take away any undesirable parts.

To crop a screenshot utilizing the Preview app, comply with these steps:

  1. Open the screenshot within the Preview app. You are able to do this by double-clicking on the screenshot file or by deciding on it and urgent Command (⌘) + O.
  2. Click on on the “Present Markup Toolbar” button within the Preview app’s toolbar. This may show a set of annotation instruments, together with the crop software.
  3. Choose the “Crop” software from the toolbar. The cursor will change to a crosshair with a dashed line.
  4. Click on and drag the crosshair to pick out the realm you wish to maintain. The portion outdoors the choice shall be cropped out.
  5. As soon as you’re happy with the choice, click on on the “Achieved” button within the toolbar to use the crop.

You may also crop a screenshot utilizing the built-in screenshot instruments. To do that, comply with these steps:

  1. Take a screenshot utilizing the keyboard shortcut or the menu bar possibility.
  2. Instantly after capturing the screenshot, a thumbnail will seem within the nook of the display. Click on on the thumbnail to open the screenshot within the Screenshot Editor.
  3. Click on on the “Crop” button within the Screenshot Editor toolbar.
  4. Drag the choice handles to crop the screenshot. You may also enter particular dimensions within the “Width” and “Peak” fields.
  5. Click on on the “Achieved” button to use the crop and save the screenshot.

Through the use of the Preview app or the built-in screenshot instruments, you possibly can simply crop screenshots in your Mac and concentrate on crucial info or parts.

Alter the side ratio if wanted.

The side ratio of a picture refers back to the ratio of its width to its top. When cropping a screenshot, it’s possible you’ll wish to alter the side ratio to match the supposed use of the picture. For instance, in case you are cropping a screenshot for a social media submit, it’s possible you’ll wish to use a sq. side ratio (1:1). If you’re cropping a screenshot for a presentation, it’s possible you’ll wish to use a widescreen side ratio (16:9).

To regulate the side ratio of a screenshot on a Mac, comply with these steps:

  1. Open the screenshot within the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor.
  2. Choose the “Crop” software.
  3. Click on on the “Facet Ratio” button within the toolbar. A drop-down menu will seem with an inventory of widespread side ratios.
  4. Choose the specified side ratio from the drop-down menu.
  5. Crop the screenshot as typical. The side ratio shall be routinely utilized.

You may also manually alter the side ratio by dragging the choice handles. Maintain down the Shift key whereas dragging to keep up the side ratio.

By adjusting the side ratio, you possibly can make sure that your cropped screenshot is the best dimension and form to your supposed use.

Save the cropped screenshot in numerous codecs.

After getting cropped your screenshot to your required specs, it can save you it in quite a lot of codecs to fit your wants.

  • PNG:

    PNG (Moveable Community Graphics) is a lossless picture format that helps transparency. It’s a good selection for screenshots that include textual content, graphics, or photos with clear backgrounds. PNG information are sometimes bigger in dimension in comparison with different codecs.

  • JPEG:

    JPEG (Joint Photographic Specialists Group) is a lossy picture format that’s generally used for images and different photos with loads of coloration and element. JPEG information are typically smaller in dimension in comparison with PNG information, however they could exhibit some lack of high quality, particularly in areas with sharp contrasts or wonderful particulars.

  • TIFF:

    TIFF (Tagged Picture File Format) is a lossless picture format that’s typically used for high-quality photos, reminiscent of these utilized in skilled images or graphic design. TIFF information are sometimes bigger in dimension in comparison with PNG and JPEG information, however they provide the very best stage of picture high quality.

  • GIF:

    GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a lossless picture format that’s generally used for easy animations and graphics with a restricted variety of colours. GIF information are sometimes smaller in dimension in comparison with different codecs, however they don’t help transparency.

To avoid wasting a cropped screenshot in a particular format, merely choose the specified format from the “Format” drop-down menu within the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor. You may also specify the standard settings for JPEG and TIFF information. As soon as you’re happy together with your settings, click on on the “Save” button to save lots of the cropped screenshot.

Copy the cropped picture to the clipboard.

Along with saving the cropped screenshot as a file, you too can copy it to the clipboard for simple pasting into different purposes. That is helpful while you wish to shortly share the screenshot with somebody or use it in a doc or presentation.

  • Use the Keyboard Shortcut:

    To repeat the cropped screenshot to the clipboard, merely press Command (⌘) + C. The screenshot shall be copied to the clipboard, and you may paste it into any utility that helps photos.

  • Use the Copy Button:

    If you’re utilizing the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor, you too can click on on the “Copy” button within the toolbar. This may copy the cropped screenshot to the clipboard.

  • Drag and Drop:

    One other option to copy the cropped screenshot to the clipboard is to tug and drop it. Merely drag the screenshot from the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor and drop it into the specified utility.

  • Use the Share Menu:

    You may also use the “Share” menu to repeat the cropped screenshot to the clipboard. To do that, click on on the “Share” button within the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor toolbar. Then, choose the “Copy Picture” possibility from the “Share” menu.

After getting copied the cropped screenshot to the clipboard, you possibly can paste it into any utility that helps photos. For instance, you possibly can paste it right into a doc, a presentation, an electronic mail message, or a social media submit.

Annotate and edit the screenshot additional.

After getting cropped your screenshot, it’s possible you’ll wish to annotate or edit it additional so as to add further info or spotlight vital parts. Each the Preview app and the Screenshot Editor provide quite a lot of instruments for annotating and modifying screenshots.

  • Add Textual content:

    You’ll be able to add textual content to your screenshot to supply further context or explanations. To do that, merely click on on the “Textual content” software within the toolbar and begin typing. You’ll be able to change the font, dimension, and coloration of the textual content utilizing the choices within the toolbar.

  • Draw Shapes:

    You’ll be able to draw shapes, reminiscent of rectangles, circles, and arrows, to focus on vital parts in your screenshot. To do that, click on on the “Shapes” software within the toolbar and choose the specified form. You’ll be able to then drag the form onto the screenshot and resize it as wanted.

  • Add Arrows and Strains:

    You’ll be able to add arrows and contours to attach completely different parts in your screenshot or to level out particular particulars. To do that, click on on the “Strains and Arrows” software within the toolbar and choose the specified sort of line or arrow. You’ll be able to then drag the road or arrow onto the screenshot and place it as wanted.

  • Crop the Screenshot Additional:

    If you wish to crop the screenshot additional, you need to use the “Crop” software once more. Merely choose the specified space of the screenshot and click on on the “Crop” button. The cropped space shall be retained, and the remainder of the screenshot shall be discarded.

These are only a few of the various methods you possibly can annotate and edit screenshots on a Mac. Experiment with the completely different instruments and options to search out those that work finest to your wants.

Use third-party apps for superior modifying.

Whereas the Preview app and the Screenshot Editor provide an honest set of instruments for primary screenshot modifying, there are occasions when it’s possible you’ll want extra superior options and performance. In these circumstances, you need to use a third-party screenshot app.

There are various third-party screenshot apps obtainable for Mac, every with its personal distinctive set of options. Some common choices embrace:

  • Snagit:

    Snagit is a strong screenshot app that provides a variety of options, together with the power to seize scrolling screenshots, document screencasts, and annotate screenshots with quite a lot of instruments.

  • ScreenFlow:

    ScreenFlow is one other common screenshot app that’s identified for its screencasting capabilities. It additionally affords quite a lot of instruments for annotating and modifying screenshots.

  • CloudApp:

    CloudApp is a cloud-based screenshot app that lets you simply seize, annotate, and share screenshots. It additionally affords integration with quite a lot of different productiveness instruments.

  • Monosnap:

    Monosnap is a light-weight screenshot app that provides quite a lot of primary modifying options, in addition to the power to seize scrolling screenshots and document screencasts.

These are only a few of the various third-party screenshot apps obtainable for Mac. Discover the completely different choices and select the one which most accurately fits your wants and workflow.

FAQ

Listed here are some steadily requested questions (FAQs) about cropping screenshots on a Mac:

Query 1: How do I take a screenshot on a Mac?
Reply 1: There are a number of methods to take a screenshot on a Mac. You should use keyboard shortcuts, the menu bar, or a third-party screenshot app.

Query 2: How do I crop a screenshot on a Mac?
Reply 2: After getting taken a screenshot, you possibly can crop it utilizing the Preview app, the Screenshot Editor, or a third-party screenshot app. Merely choose the realm you wish to maintain and discard the remaining.

Query 3: Can I crop a screenshot to a particular side ratio?
Reply 3: Sure, you possibly can crop a screenshot to a particular side ratio utilizing the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor. Merely choose the specified side ratio from the drop-down menu within the toolbar.

Query 4: How do I save a cropped screenshot in a special format?
Reply 4: It can save you a cropped screenshot in numerous codecs, reminiscent of PNG, JPEG, TIFF, and GIF. Merely choose the specified format from the “Format” drop-down menu within the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor.

Query 5: Can I copy a cropped screenshot to the clipboard?
Reply 5: Sure, you possibly can copy a cropped screenshot to the clipboard utilizing a keyboard shortcut, the “Copy” button within the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor, or by dragging and dropping the screenshot.

Query 6: How do I annotate and edit a cropped screenshot?
Reply 6: You’ll be able to annotate and edit a cropped screenshot utilizing the instruments within the Preview app or the Screenshot Editor, or by utilizing a third-party screenshot app. Frequent modifying choices embrace including textual content, shapes, arrows, and contours.

These are only a few of the steadily requested questions on cropping screenshots on a Mac. You probably have some other questions, be at liberty to go looking on-line or seek the advice of the documentation for the particular screenshot app you’re utilizing.

Now that you understand how to crop screenshots on a Mac, listed below are a couple of ideas that will help you get essentially the most out of this convenient characteristic:

Ideas

Listed here are a couple of sensible ideas that will help you crop screenshots on a Mac extra successfully:

Tip 1: Use Keyboard Shortcuts:
Grasp the keyboard shortcuts for taking and cropping screenshots to hurry up your workflow. For instance, urgent Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 adopted by the Spacebar lets you seize a particular window.

Tip 2: Experiment with Completely different Crop Instruments:
Each the Preview app and the Screenshot Editor provide completely different crop instruments. Strive them out to search out the one which works finest to your wants. For example, the “Good Lasso” software within the Preview app lets you make freehand alternatives.

Tip 3: Alter the Facet Ratio Correctly:
When cropping a screenshot, take note of the side ratio. Select a facet ratio that’s appropriate for the supposed use of the screenshot. For instance, a 16:9 side ratio is often used for widescreen shows.

Tip 4: Save Screenshots within the Proper Format:
Contemplate the aim of the screenshot when selecting a file format. PNG is an efficient alternative for screenshots with textual content or graphics, whereas JPEG is healthier suited to images and pictures with loads of coloration and element.

By following the following tips, you possibly can crop screenshots in your Mac like a professional. Whether or not it is advisable to share info, present visible directions, or just save a memorable second, cropping screenshots can assist you talk extra successfully and effectively.

Now that you’ve mastered the artwork of cropping screenshots on a Mac, you possibly can unlock its full potential for productiveness and communication. Keep in mind to apply and experiment with completely different methods to search out those that work finest for you.

Conclusion

All through this complete information, we have now explored the varied methods and instruments obtainable for cropping screenshots on a Mac. Whether or not you are an informal person or knowledgeable designer, cropping screenshots is usually a priceless ability for speaking concepts, sharing info, and creating partaking content material.

We started by discussing the completely different strategies for taking screenshots on a Mac, highlighting using keyboard shortcuts and menu bar choices. We then delved into the method of cropping screenshots utilizing the Preview app and the built-in screenshot instruments, offering step-by-step directions for each strategies.

Moreover, we explored further options reminiscent of adjusting the side ratio, saving screenshots in numerous codecs, copying them to the clipboard, and annotating and modifying screenshots. We additionally mentioned the advantages of utilizing third-party apps for extra superior modifying capabilities.

Lastly, we supplied sensible ideas that will help you crop screenshots extra successfully, together with utilizing keyboard shortcuts, experimenting with completely different crop instruments, selecting the best side ratio, and saving screenshots within the acceptable format.

With the data and abilities gained from this information, now you can confidently crop screenshots in your Mac to reinforce your productiveness, communication, and creativity. Keep in mind to apply and experiment with completely different methods to search out those that finest fit your wants and workflow.

Glad screenshot cropping!